New Photos

We have had a BIG SURPRISE. You can see what it is by going to Ben's website, look under Journal As We Wait.

Still waiting to hear back from the doctor regarding Shayle's procedure last week. I'll update when I have some news.

Thanks For Praying

Shayle did well during her scope today. I wasn't able to go with her as Payton has been home with a stomach bug today. Darrel took her and he said she did great, squirmed a little but overall did wonderful. I give all praise to God for comforting her and calming her as only He can do.

The results of the test were as we had anticipated, her palate is not closing off when she says certain sounds, like the letters g, k, & c. It is likely she will need the p-flap surgery to create the flap in order for her to build the air pressure in her mouth to create these sounds. The ENT who did her scope today will call our surgeon tomorrow to go over the results. I'm sure I will be hearing from the surgeon tomorrow. I will post more once I know the plan.

Thanks so much for praying for my sweet Shayle today!

Shayle's Procedure

Shayle will have her scope done on Tuesday at 4:45. Please pray for her as this will not be a fun procedure and she can't be sedated. A small tube with a camera will be inserted through her nose and then the ENT will take a look at the back of her palate to see if it closes off as she says certain sounds. This is why she will have to be fully alert and can't have anything to relax her.

In the past, she hasn't responded very well when having her ears cleaned out as her tubes get blocked. She has gone through so much since being with us and I don't blame her for not wanting to go to the doctor!

Thanks for lifting her up. I will post the results after its over.

Website for Ben

I have created a website for Ben and our travel to China. It is password protected. If you would like to take a look at it, e-mail me and I will give you the information. momto6@truevine.net

Ben Turns Two & We Are One Step Closer!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BENJAMEN ZACHARY GUANG

Today our baby boy turned two and we received a wonderful gift! We received "The Call" we all on this adoption journey love to receive, We have our LOA for Ben!!! What an awesome surprise and it couldn't have come on a better day. Our agency called at 2:15 pm with the good news, just 45 minutes before Shayle's tea party. China actually processed it on Monday the 15th, Shayle and Arron's birthdays! God is so great!

Our agency is so great that they have already mailed our I800 off today as well. I had mailed all of our applications about 3 weeks ago just waiting for our LOA to come in. It was so nice to not have to sit down this afternoon and fill out paperwork. In fact, our DS230 and Article 5 will be mailed to the representative in Guangzhou, China tomorrow. I do have to say they are very on top of things and they do not waste any precious time, which means we will have Ben in our arms sooner.

We are expecting to travel in late May to early June. Please continue to pray for the rest of our process and for Ben to be ready to receive his new family.

Signing our LOA to send back to China

Happy Birthday Arron & Shayle

On our way to get Arron's license

FREEDOM

Shayle's new car

Shayle was excited to get something to drive like her big brother!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!
I LOVE YOU BOTH VERY MUCH!

Update

Playing AWANA Games

Shayle and I were having a conversation this morning about her birthday. I asked her what she wanted mommy and daddy to get her for her birthday. She said, "bubbles and a hot tub." I said, you want a hot tub? She said "yes, a hot tub." I told her that hot tubs cost a lot of money. She then said "I have money, six dollars." So cute, she was so serious about all of this, having no clue that a hot tub costs more than six dollars.

Last weekend, we went to a cabin in Oklahoma, near Broken Bow. She played in the hot tub, so this is where she came up with this idea. I will do a post soon on our camping trip.

This week will be busy with parties. We are having a family party Sunday night with my dad and step mom who are coming from Abilene. Monday, the "Big Day" we will get Arron's driver's license and celebrate some more. Tuesday night all of Arron's friends are coming over to stay and then going to play paintball on Wednesday. While all the guys are playing paintball, us girls are having a tea party for Shayle at our house. I have found some cute princess tea cups and party favors. Everyone will come dressed as their favorite princess. Shayle has been wanting a tea party since January.

Still no word on a LOA for Ben, maybe we will have it for his birthday on Wednesday. Please God, send us our LOA!!! As we are going to be so busy with parties on Ben's birthday, a part of me can't help but to be a little sad to know that Ben is spending his birthday so far away without his family. He should receive his cake and care package on that day. However, due to recent changes in his orphanage, no pictures will be allowed. They will not allow any digital or with the disposable camera included with his package to be used. This breaks my heart, since I have been holding out on getting a new picture of him with his birthday cake. The pictures I have of him are a year old. I'm sure he has grown so much.

Please pray that Ben will receive our package on 3/17 and that somehow we will get a picture. God is bigger than any policies and I know he can change the minds and hearts of people. Also, please pray we will receive our LOA this next week, today is day 65 since our LID.

One more thing, I would like for you to pray for an upcoming procedure for Shayle. She will be having a scope done to determine if she will need an additional surgery with her palate. It has been a year since her palate repair and her speech is still not where it needs to be. Her surgeon has determined that she will likely need a p-flap surgery to correct it and help her develop certain sounds. Of course the scope has to be done without sedation or any kind of medication to relax her. She is not a good patient when it comes to poking and prodding. This scope will be traumatizing for her but it is necessary before making a decision for surgery. They will insert a tube with a camera on the end through her nose to look at her airway and the back of her throat as she makes certain sounds. I know without God's power to help her, their is no way she is going to be still and certainly not going to make any sounds once it is inserted. It is likely we will have to have several people hold her down and then hopefully she will cooperate and speak for them while the camera takes pictures. Once I know the exact date I will post and ask that everyone pray during that time. If the test shows that she will need surgery, she will have tissue cut from her throat and sewn up through the palate to create a flap. This should help her greatly with her speech, which we would like to see progress before entering 1st grade in a public school. She has already been made fun of in her private kindergarten class, which breaks this momma's heart.

I will post some pictures of the birthday activities next week! Have a great weekend.

Two Months Today

It has been two months today since we were logged into the CCAA for Ben. I am anticipating a call anyday now for our letter of acceptance, which was called our RA with Shayle. Ben will be two on March 17th and I have ordered him a care package to be sent with a birthday cake on his birthday. Oh how I wish we could spend his birthday with him!

Myranda bought this for Ben, since he is a St. Patty's Baby

Speaking of birthdays, Arron will be 16 and Shayle 7 on next Monday, March 15th. They are growing up way too fast. I don' t feel I'm old enough to have one driving already. He is very excited of course! He will be getting dad's '01 Chevy Silverado to drive and Shayle, well she thinks she also needs a car to drive. Well, maybe a barbie jeep will be on my list this week! More to come on our birthday celebrations..........

Myranda All Dressed Up

Myranda went to the Valentine's dance a couple weeks ago. We had so much fun shopping for her dress! I made her an appt. to get her hair done as several of her friends had done. She met up with several friends to eat before they went to the dance. She is turning into such a beautiful young lady. Just this year she has really began to grow up on me.

Ben's Care Package

I have finally managed to put some pictures of Ben's care package we sent on January 28th. I sent it through DHL like I sent Shayle's last time. We were able to track it all the way to China. It was delivered to the orphanage on Feb. 3rd. I don't know if he has received it since he is in foster care. I'm hoping he has and has been able to look at the pictures we sent in his photo book.

The guys heading to the Independence Bowl back in December.

Payton with our Italian Greyhound, Maverick. He is 3 1/2 years old and is very active and full of energy.

Myranda, who doesn't let me take her picture very often.

Payton is our animal lover. This is our aggie dog, "Rev" on her 13th birthday. We have had her since she was 8 weeks old. We got her when Arron turned 3 and she is a very well behaved sheltie who has been so good with the kids. She is beginning to slow down and is starting to show her age. It has been hard to watch her health decline since she has been with us for so long.

Payton's new shirt she bought when we recently went to College Staion for a basketball game, sooo cute!

Helping Mom bake cupcakes for Jacob's birthday.

Enjoying hot chocolate on a cold winter day.

We received great news on Jacob's birthday. We are logged in, PTL!!!